Peace: for our sake and the future

“Kita, karong henerasyon, maoy bug-at ang tahas nga masiguro ang atong mga anak ug sa mga mosunod pa, nga maayo ug malinaw ang katilingban” (We, the present generation, have the heavy responsibility of ensuring that our children and the ones to come are prepared with a better and a peaceful society for them to live in).

The children among the crowd delighted in the opening statement of Col Benito de Leon, the commander of 104^th Brigade, who delivered in broken Visayan dialect his peace message during the “Hudyaka sa Kalinaw” (Peace Celebration) at Iligan Public Plaza last Wednesday evening. This celebration, the last day of the Mindanao Week of Peace for the year called for by Presidential Proclamation No. 127 of 2001, was organized by the Lanao Educational Arts for Development (LEAD). The Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace (CSOFP), with Jane Bernardo as President, supported the activity.

The “Hudyaka,” from afternoon through the night of December 3, started with interfaith Christian-Muslim-Higaunon prayers followed by Maranao and Higaunon cultural presentations of dances and songs. With the theme “Duyog Mindanaw: pandayon ta ang kalinaw “ (Together Mindanao:  let’s repair or construct peace), speakers shared their views how to achieve peace.

The lone military speaker echoed the theme of the Bishop Ulama Conference (BUC) for the week-long celebration to attain peace. “Integrity of Heart and Mind” as the road to reconciliation and peace, de Leon says, would also include “keeping our passions within due bounds.”  With emphasis he closed, “ang hagit sa pagpanday niining kalinaw kinahanglan nato atubangon sa karon para sa atong tanan ug sa musonod pang henerasyon” (we have to face the challenge to repair or construct peace now for our sakes and the future generations).

Project ISLAM Gets Warm Welcome in Southern Philippines

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 9, 2008) – Christians and Muslims gathered at a village in Lanao del Norte’s Kauswagan town to welcome the members of the Christian Ministerial Fellowship who visited them as part of a humanitarian outreach mission in Mindanao.

Provincial government and military officials joined the fellowship visit headed by Pastor Peter Robert Matalinis in the village of Delabayan to nurture and promote one of the successful peace building initiatives in the aftermath of the war in 2000 between soldiers and rebels.

The Philippine Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade under Col. Benito de Leon has largely assisted in the successful mission dubbed as “Project ISLAM” which stands for “I Sincerely Love All Muslims.

The project was started by Lt. Col. Johnny Macanas, then with the Army’s 4th Infantry Division to help the Muslim village recover from the devastation war. The village was one of those worst affected by the fighting during the administration of President Joseph Estrada.

“One of our thrust in 104th Infantry Brigade is to explore and promote all avenues of peaceful undertakings that may hasten unity and harmony in conflict areas,” said Captain Alonto Maamo, Civil-Military Operations officer of the 104th Infantry Brigade.

He said the projects included housing, madrasa, mosques, school building, and potable water system for residents of Delabayan.

Educational scholarships were also awarded to the locals in support to the army’s literacy program. “Significantly, this project has paved the way for both Christians and Muslims to undertake symbiotic activities that benefited each other.”

“The military along with the Christian Ministerial Fellowship plans to replicate the project in other areas to help put in place the conditions for lasting peace among Christian and Muslim communities,’ Maamo said.

Just recently, President Gloria Arroyo also ordered the distribution of sleeping bags to soldiers to protect them from colds and harsh weather condition in Lanao del Norte. Also the military handed over new machine guns for soldiers as part of its upgrading program.

“We thank the President and our military leaders for their continued support to the troops,” said Col. De Leon. (With a report from Merlyn Manos)